The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-05
FINE TABLE LINEN.
Elegant Patterns for TabIc-Cioths, Nap
kins. Luncheon Sets and DoyIIcs.

EieEHUt EHtteTns IOr TAbIc-NIOtm, Nap |
kins, Luncheon Sets and Doylics.
Even more enthusiasm is felt for
choice table-lincn than for bcd-linen,
and this is quite reasonable, because the
opportunities for admiring IL are more
numerous. For table service nothing
is too dainty, nothing too beautiful, and
so must have thought the designers of
the snowy covers and napkins, the cx-
quisite doylics and the handsome lunch
con sets. The best patterns are now
found in tablc-cloths that are sold by the
! yard, MS well rs in those woven sepa-
! iately with border on all sides. In
! woven cloths the sizes vary, so that n
cover for n very large as well as very
small table Is obtainablc Among the
newest and most effective wcavings Is
one known as crackle work. the design
reproducing the effect of crackle ware.
In the angles formed by the convcrging
lines of one cover having the crackle
weaving are acorns; and upon another
are realistc-looking daisies. Another
cover has large clover-leaves strewn
singly over it, and still another has
peaches brought out in beautiful luster
The design of the border is often differ
ent from the center. For instance. the
cloth having large clover-leaf design
has tive-pointcd stars between two Greek
scrolls for its border; that having
peaches upon it has an architectural
design that looks like Corinthian cor
nice surmountcd by spear-hcads in
groups of three.
Napkins match the table covers in
design and vary in size from twenty
one to thirty inches. They are usually
square, but what is known as French
napkin is oblong. 1t is noticeable that
French table-linen displays very airy
designs, with Il leaning toward roses,
palms and other floral patterns; but
the demand for it is only in the best
qualities Its beautiful luster must
always be admired even while the dur
ability and beauty of Irish goods of the
best class are conceded. Indeed, in the
development of flax products each
county where the plant is raised seems
to have paid special attention to the
development of some particular result.
Scotch goods, even in their lowest
grades, yield good service; while in the
medium qualities German linens are un-
surpassed.
The question is sometimes asked
whether the same style of table linen is
! used for breakfast as for dinner This
depends on many things, principal
among which are the circumstances
governing the service of the morning
meal. A white cover is never out of
. place upon the breakfast table, but it is
, not essential to the proper serving of
the light repast which often preccdes
an early dinner. Breakfast napkins
are smaller than those used at dinner
Of course, everybody's taste is not
suited by cover of white linen. no
, matter how fine or how beautiful it
, may be, and at ceremonious dinners
the center of the cloth is sometimes
, overlaid with a square of linen show
, ing elaborate drawn-work. Sometimes
/, q stripe of drawn-work extends through
the center or along each side of the
cover, showing q stripe of satin or
, plush placed underneath.
Luncheon sets invite the use of much
ornamentation, and many adjectives
might be employed in their description.
Perhaps the briefest summary of their
) beauty may be expressed by saying
, that they are very artistic. Holbein
| sets, which at u little distance appear
to be of II single faint color, display up
on inspection two colors upon a creamy
4 background, which softens the other
9 tints beautifully. Both colors are
f. woven in an arabesque design which
Stimulates old tapestry, and the effect
Z. is especially good. Darker sets pre-
Z, sent almost as cOnglomerate an inter-
, mingling of colors as cashmere shawl
or an oriental rug, and are thick, but
l light in texture. They are all consid-
0 cred fast colors. but their laundering is
something which one would instructive
ly postpone as long as the first fresh
ness renamed. A handsome luncheon
set, consisting of table-cloth and
twelve napkins, that would please the
4 seeker after nice but inexpensive goods,
is of monte linen with Kensington
border inside netted fringe.
. Doylies. At their mention there comes
to mind squares of silk and linen SO
woven rs to appear all silk, bits of fine
! cambria with hem-stitching and drawn
: work upon them, tiny morsels of linen
! overwrought with the fairy blossoms OF
the flax-indeed, no fancy of the brain
! is too original to be worked out upon
, = these little ornaments, for that is what
they are. Upon the embroidered ones
the work is usually done at home, but
any design admired will be developed
by shop-keepers who supply them. Even
the laundering of set of table linen is
now accomplished, if so ordered, before
it is delivered to the purchaser.
, In marking bedroom or table linen
the initials, singly or interlaced, of the
/. lady of the house or the initial or en-
! blem of her family are preferred if the
articles are among the provisions of her
family for her establishment in house
!, keeping; and sometimes this preference
! is maintained even when she has been
foryears matron. Usually, however,
= linen purchased after marriage has the
|, name or the initials, crest or monogram
n of the family upon it. The characters
a may be small or large, fashion only
!. stipulating that they shall be perfectly